Background

John's Gospel was written around
AD100. It was the last of the four Gospels to be written, and
differs markedly from the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke.
It is thought to have been written by John, the brother of James,
who were both the sons of Zebedee. John was one of Jesus'
disciples. John contains many long discourses by Jesus in which he
explains his role to the disciples.

Verses 19-29 come after Jesus had
healed a paralysed man on the Sabbath (John
5:1-18). The Pharisees regarded this to be contrary to the law
of Moses. Jesus responded by talking about God as his father. The
Jews considered this to be blasphemous because Jesus was making
himself equal with God. Jesus was trying to explain to the
Pharisees that it was not about breaking the Sabbath law; it was
about something much deeper, that is, about who he was and who had
sent him.

Jesus explains that he was sent by
God, his Father, to do his Father's will on earth. Everything that
he did was done in obedience to his Father. This theme can be found
in several other passages in this Gospel.

There is an intimate relationship
between the Father and the Son. This is a relationship of
obedience, and the obedience is based on love.

Jesus was telling the Jews that he was
not equating himself with God. Instead, he was explaining that he
was carrying out the work the Father sent him to do, and he was
doing so through the power which the Father had given him.
Moreover, God wanted a relationship with human beings, and this
relationship has been made possible by Jesus coming to earth as a
human being. The Son has come to give new life and to give it in
all its abundance (John 10:10).

To Ponder

How do you respond to the fact that Jesus said that the Son can
do nothing without the Father?

How does the intimate relationship between God the Father and
Jesus the Son encourage you in your own relationship with God?